By Robert Woodman, Plant Specialist
I have mixed emotions about the fall. Don’t get me wrong - it’s a wonderful time of year. But it marks the end of the growing season and the beginning of dormancy for all those plants that have keep me company all summer long. I find comfort, however, in watching the progression of colors as the trees, shrubs and perennials get ready for bed and leave us ‘til next year.
The grand marshals of the fall display are the trees. For most of the year, we take them for granted. They tower high above our heads, providing shade during our hot summers. I guess we’re too busy looking around at ground level to see what’s overhead.
Here are the top five trees that leave me breathless that you might want to consider for your garden:
- Nothing says fall as much as Maples do. It doesn’t matter what kind, from Japanese, Red and Sugar Maples, they all stun us with their gorgeous color. I’ve got a soft spot for the Red Maples, as its one you see the most, naturally growing in our woodlands. Several good varieties exist, such as ‘October Glory’ and ‘Sunset’, but a new breed has come out recently that pushes the bar higher. ‘Sun Valley’ is one of a few new seedless types to come out and carries its brilliant red fall color exceptionally long. ’Brandy Wine’ is also a seedless type but displays a brilliant red-purple coloration for the fall. The seedless characteristics will be appealing to those who have experienced little maple seedlings popping up everywhere in spring, even in the lawn.
- Sweet Gums are another tree that you’ll find growing naturally with Red Maples. They have a leaf similar in appearance, with the exception that Sweet Gum leaves alternate along its branches and are not paired like Maples. Some people have been put off by its spiny fruit, often referred to as a gumball. 'Rotundiloba' is a rounded, lobed variety that doesn’t produce the fruit. ‘Happidaze’ is a new type that has so far not produced fruit but retains the classic pointed leaf lobes of its parents. This year the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society awarded 'Slender Silhouette', a new narrow, strongly columnar type, with their gold medal for 2010. It’s a tree that can mature at about 30 feet tall, but will only spread 6 to 8 feet.
- Ginkgo is a living fossil, the lone survivor of a family of trees that existed 200 million years ago. Male fruitless trees are the most frequently available types in the trade, as the odor from the female fruit can be offensive to some. Top picks are the more refined ‘Autumn Gold’, which features a deep gold coloring on a more symmetrical crown that’s both broad and tall. ‘Princeton Sentry’ and ‘Magyar’ are both gaining popularity for being upright tapering trees with a narrower spread, making it more viable for the smaller home lot.
- Another tree that’s gaining popularity is the Black Gum or Tupelo. Native to the Eastern United States, it’s regarded as a medium to large shade tree perfectly suited to our hot, dry summers. It’s one of the first trees in our area to start coloring in early fall with deep purple, progressing to yellow, orange and scarlet, sometimes showing all of these colors on the same branch. ‘Red Rage’ has been a proven selection for its strong scarlet fall color, while ‘Wildfire’ doubles it display with new foliage growth appearing burgundy in spring.
- The Sourwood tree deserves an honorable mention as another native to wow the senses. It’s a medium sized, slightly pyramidal tree that’s a show stopper in both flower and fall color. It’s known to be fussy in regards to our clay soil, but with careful amendments to the planting area you can cater to its taste. Very few varieties exist and it’s often limited to just straight species - but why mess with perfection?
My only problem now is not having enough space to grow them all!
Click here for the list of plants that I discuss on “Merrifield’s Gardening Advisor TV Show” on November 6.